Hollyoaks Later:
Interview with Bonnie Tyler
We chatted to 80s pop icon Bonnie Tyler, who plays herself in this year's Hollyoaks Later episodes, acting as a guardian angel for Carmel McQueen. Find out what the lovely Bonnie thought about it all here...
How did your appearance on Hollyoaks come about?
Well Bryan Kirkwood had asked me over a year ago, but the first thing that comes to my mind when acting is involved is to say no. So I said thank you for asking but no, I just can't act. But he got in touch again lately and said, "I know Bonnie says she can't act and turned it down before, but I'm going to do a sequence where she'd be singing so there would hardly be any lines." All my nieces and nephews love Hollyoaks, and when they heard I could be in the late night episodes they said, "oh you've got to do it, it's really cool." So I thought alright, I'll have a go then!
I've got to tell you it wasn't easy for me because I felt like a fish out of water, but everybody was so lovely and helpful. They even made me a white outfit because I'm supposed to be like a guardian angel for Carmel. So I'm in this long white coat like I was in the 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' music video, with a white Basque and white leather boots!
So you've never acted before?
No, I've often been asked but I always turned it down. It wasn't as scary as I thought though, because Gemma (Carmel) was helpful with my lines.
What scenes did you film on Wednesday?
Well Carmel's in a prison cell because a policeman thought she was a prostitute, and she's sat there wondering how she can get out. She goes into this dream sequence and I come in as a guardian angel singing 'Holding Out For a Hero'.
How was Gemma Merna (who plays Carmel)'s singing?
We recorded a duet the night before, and yeah she was really good. She does the first verse, I do the second verse and we sing the chorus together. It was really good fun!
Are you a fan of Hollyoaks?
Well I'm from Wales and I have a house there so I'm back and forth, but I mostly live on the Algarve so I'd not had a chance to see it. I don't get the chance to see any British telly really apart from when I come home. But I made a point of watching it the night before because I knew I was going to be doing the scenes.
And finally, you've been 'Holding Out For a Hero' for many years now... Did you find one on Hollyoaks?
(Laughs) Well unfortunately I didn't get to meet any of the Hollyoaks boys because the scene was only with the McQueen girls, so sadly not!